Anaglyphic Depth Perception Training Or Testing

ABSTRACT

An anaglyphic image presentation system is provided to evaluate and train a user&#39;s depth perception abilities. In embodiments, anaglyphic image target components are presented to a user on a display device. The image target components are then viewed by the user through a set of transmission filter lenses. The transmission filter lenses present and block one or more target components based on the peak wavelength transmission associated with each lens. As a result, a user perceives an anaglyphic target image that is resultant from the perceived image target components when viewed through the transmission filter lenses.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to visual training and/ortesting. More particularly, the present invention relates to thetraining and/or evaluation of the retinal disparity sensitivity aspectof an individual's depth perception abilities as isolated fromdifferences in the vergence aspect of an individual's depth perceptionabilities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous activities, such as competitive athletics, place particularizeddemands upon the depth perception abilities of an individual. Whileanaglyphic systems to present three-dimensional images to an individualhave long been known, those systems have suffered from poor opticsand/or limited image filtering capabilities. Other known systems, suchas LCD eyewear used in conjunction with a synchronized display device,have been expensive and cumbersome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

The present invention offers several practical applications in thetechnical arts, not limited to systems and methods for testing and/ortraining an individual's depth perception abilities. Systems inaccordance with the present invention present one or more anaglyphicimages to a user on an anaglyphic image display device, and those imagesare then viewed by the user through a set of transmission filter lensesin order to simulate the appearance of an object(s) appearing at variousdepths in relation to the background of the display device. Ananaglyphic image presentation system in accordance with the presentinvention may include an anaglyphic image display device, a set oftransmission filter lenses, an input device, and a control unit. Byallowing a user to perceive a plurality of displayed colored visualindicia against a background through transmission filter lenses, systemsin accordance with the present invention may simulate the appearance ofdepth and/or three-dimensional space to the user.

An input device may receive an input from a user in response to adisplayed visual indicia. In exemplary embodiments, anaglyphic displayof colored images on the display device comprises at least two coloredindicia that are perceived through a set of transmission filter lenses.The display of the colored images acting as components of at least oneanaglyphic image may be controlled using a control unit so as to matchthe peak wavelength emitted from each colored image to the peakwavelength transmitted through the set of transmission filter lenses, orto avoid bleed-through. For instance, when red and blue transmissionfilter lenses are used, the display of the anaglyphic display device maycomprise at least one blue indicia and at least one red indicia, withthe red indicia and the blue indicia tuned by a control unit to matchthe peak wavelength transmitted through the red and blue lenses,respectively. The matching of peak wavelength transmitted to peakwavelength emitted allows the indicia to be perceived and blocked in analternative manner when viewed through the set of transmission filterlenses, wherein each lens is matched to the peak wavelength emitted byone set of colored indicia displayed in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention. It is the ability to view only one color with onefilter that forms the basis of the anaglyphic image presentation systemdescribed in embodiments of the invention.

In alternative embodiments, the matching of a peak wavelengthtransmitted may comprise one of a range of nearby wavelength values. Onefeature of the present invention is the ability to limit or eliminatecolor bleed-through across more than one transmission filter lens. Colorbleed-through, wherein a portion of the color spectrum is visible acrossmore than one transmission filter lens, causes the resulting anaglyphicimage to appear fuzzy. By decreasing or eliminating color bleed-through,the resulting anaglyphic image perceived by a user has a high degree ofclarity.

In further alternative embodiments, the peak wavelength emitted by eachset of colored indicia is modified to emit at the high and low range,respectively, of the peak wavelength transmitted by each lens of the setof transmission filter lenses. As such, in embodiments, eachtransmission filter lens of the set of transmission filter lenses isselected to be widely separated from the other transmission filter lens(e.g., in a set of transmission filter lenses, one lens may be selectedto be “blue” and one lens may be selected to be “red”). By altering thepeak wavelength emitted by each set of colored indicia displayed, suchthat the wavelength perceived for each object is on the lower end of theblue range or the upper end of the red range, respectively, theresultant anaglyphic image will have less bleed-through, and will have acrisper image, than if the peak wavelength emitted by the anaglyphicimage components and the peak wavelength transmitted through eachtransmission filter lens were exactly matched.

In alternative embodiments, anaglyphic images may be composed to givethe perception of various degrees of depth through the placement of thecolored indicia across different portions of the anaglyphic imagedisplay device. In embodiments, various degrees of depth perception maybe achieved by changing the distance between an image component of afirst wavelength and an image component of a second wavelength. Thisdistance may be referred to as the pixdelta. Again using the example ofa red indicia and a blue indicia as components of an anaglyphic image,the orientation of a red indicia and a blue indicia to the left andright portion of a display device, respectively, would appear to behovering in front of a background panel when viewed with a set oftransmission filter lenses comprising a blue left lens and a right redlens, respectively. As the red indicia and blue indicia move fartherapart (i.e., as the red indicia moves further left and/or the blueindicia moves further right), the resulting anaglyphic image wouldappear to hover further and further in front of the background panel(e.g., the resulting anaglyphic image would appear to come closer to theuser). In this example, the pixdelta would become increasingly positiveas the indicia grow further apart, where the positive connotation is dueto the relative relation of the red indicia and blue indicia as reversedfrom the relative relation of the red transmission filter lens to theblue transmission filter lens.

Conversely, given the same system as described above except with the redindicia and blue indicia reversed (such that the red indicia ispresented on the right part of the display device and the blue indiciais presented on the left part of the display device), the resultinganaglyphic image would appear to hover below the background panel.Similar to the results above, as the red indicia and blue indicia movefarther apart (e.g., as the red indicia were to move further rightand/or the blue indicia were to move further left), the image wouldappear to hover farther below the background panel. In this example, thepixdelta would become increasingly negative as the indicia grew furtherapart, where the negative connotation is due to the relative relation ofthe red indicia and blue indicia as being consistent with the relativerelation of the red transmission filter lens to the blue transmissionfilter lens.

A control unit may be used to present and arrange the one or morecolored indicia used as anaglyphic image components of the anaglyphicimage presentation system. In one embodiment, anaglyphic imagecomponents may be presented on the anaglyphic image display device basedon test instructions executed by the control unit. During the display ofanaglyphic image components, the test instructions may serve to controlthe pixdelta between the displayed anaglyphic image components.

In operation, when training an individual's depth perception inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention, the individual maybe prompted to engage the input device when the first anaglyphic imagepresented in one area of the display device with a varying pixdeltaseems to match the depth of a second anaglyphic image presented onanother portion of the display device with a stationary pixdelta. Oncethe user has indicated that the condition has been met by inputting aresponse into the input device, the control unit may detect a time ofthe engagement and determine preciseness of the individual's responsebased on a comparison of the engagement time and an expected time (i.e.,the time the first anaglyphic image actually encounters the same depthas the second anaglyphic image). Alternatively, assuming a constantchange of depth difference in the first anaglyphic image, the degree ofdifference of depth between the first anaglyphic image and the secondanaglyphic image when the individual enters a response into the inputdevice may be used as a measure of the speed and accuracy of anindividual's depth perception. In instances, the control unit may storeother information related to training, evaluation, or user depthperception abilities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to theattached drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an anaglyphic image presentation system in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an emitted and transmitted wavelength chart plottedagainst a percentage transmittance of brightness in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an anaglyphic image display device that providestarget component images that may be viewed through a set of transmissionfilter lenses in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perceived anaglyphic image of an anaglyphic imagedisplay device when viewed through a first transmission filter lens inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perceived anaglyphic image of an anaglyphic imagedisplay device when viewed through a second transmission filter lens inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a display of anaglyphic image components with variouspixdelta displays in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 illustrates an anaglyphic image display device in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing a method for presenting at least oneanaglyphic image to a user in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of the present invention is described withspecificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, thedescription itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent.Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject mattermight also be embodied in other ways, to include different steps orcombinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, inconjunction with other present or future technologies.

Embodiments of the invention provide an anaglyphic image presentationsystem for training and/or evaluating the depth perception abilities ofan individual. By way of example only and not limitation, a suitableanaglyphic image presentation system may include an anaglyphic imagedisplay device that presents a plurality of perceived target images,each perceived target image associated with a left display imagecomponent and a right display image component. In particular, for agiven display of a perceived anaglyphic target, a display devicedisplays three components: a background display, a left target displaycomponent, and a right target display component, with the background,left target display component, and right target display component eachcomprising a set of properties. In embodiments, a set of propertiesassociated with each type of display may include: a displayed wavelengthand a displayed brightness. Additionally, the anaglyphic imagepresentation system may diversify the area(s) of the display device thatis used to display a plurality of perceived target images, where theplurality of perceived target images may comprise a plurality of targetdisplay component images. In this way, by moving the target displaycomponents across the display device of the anaglyphic imagepresentation system, a user may perceive a series of different targetsassociated with a plurality of depth perception measurements/distances.In embodiments of the invention, a perceived target display is given anappearance of depth by varying the pixdelta (i.e. the distance betweenthe placement of indicia) between the left display image component andthe right display image component. A pixdelta may comprise the rawdistance, such as measured in centimeters, between two image components,or may refer to a number of pixels on the display between two imagecomponents.

The display device may also display a background that is tailored toemit a wavelength that, when viewed through a set of transmission filterlenses, is perceived as having a color that is of equal luminancebetween the left perceived target component and the right perceivedtarget component when viewed through an associated transmission filterlens for each perceived target image, respectively. In an exemplaryembodiment, the anaglyphic image presentation system further comprises acontrol unit for presenting the plurality of target display componentsas perceived anaglyphic images so as to create the appearance of depthof associated perceived target images, and an input device to be engagedby the individual to indicate which perceived target image(s) of aplurality of perceived target images displayed on a display devicepossesses the greatest appearance of depth associated with the perceivedtarget image.

In embodiments, when training the depth perception of an individual withthe anaglyphic image display device, the perceived target displaycomponents may be strategically positioned with a plurality of pixdeltaproperties such that the associated perceived target images may possessan appearance of depth that is perceived at the base level of thedisplay plane, perceived at a depth in front of the display plane, orperceived at a depth below the display plane.

Having briefly described an embodiment of the present invention, anexemplary operating environment for the present invention is describedbelow.

Embodiments of the invention may be described in the general context ofan anaglyphic display device that functions according to computer codeor machine-useable instructions (e.g., test instructions), includingcomputer-executable instructions such as program components, beingexecuted by a computing device (e.g., control unit, input device, orrecording device) or other logic-processing machine, such as a personaldata assistant or other handheld device. Generally, program componentsincluding routines, programs, indicia, components, data structures, andthe like, refer to code that performs particular tasks, or implementparticular abstract data types. Embodiments of the present invention maybe practiced in a variety of system configurations, including hand-helddevices, consumer electronics, general-purpose computers, specialtycomputing devices, etc.

Embodiments of the depth perception training/testing system, and theanaglyphic image display device employed thereby, will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings and theassociated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of thepresent invention and not to limit the scope thereof. Reference in thespecification to an “embodiment” is intended to indicate that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of theinvention. Further, the appearance of the phrase “in one embodiment” invarious places in the specification are not necessarily all referring tothe same embodiment.

Referring to the drawings in general, and initially to FIG. 1 inparticular, an anaglyphic image presentation system 100 is shown, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In an exemplaryembodiment, the anaglyphic image presentation system 100 comprises ananaglyphic image display device 140, a set of transmission filter lenses150, a control unit 160, and an input device 170. The anaglyphic imagedisplay device 140 may be arranged between an individual 130 beingtested and the set of transmission filter lenses 150.

With reference to FIG. 1, the control unit 160 will now be discussed.Generally, the control unit 160 is configured to provide for testingand/or training of the depth perception ability of the individual 130.It will be understood and appreciated by those of ordinary skill in theart that the control unit 160 is merely an example of one suitablecomputing device and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to thescope of use or functionality of embodiments of the present invention.Accordingly, the control unit 160 may take the form of various types ofprocessors that are commonly deployed in a personal computing device, ahandheld device, a consumer electronic device, and the like. It shouldbe noted, however, that embodiments of the present invention are notlimited to implementation on any particular processing components.

The present invention may be used to test depth perception, such as theaccuracy of depth judgment, at a wide range of distances. Inembodiments, a user may be presented with two or more images at varyingperceived depths and may be asked to select an image that has a smalldifference in depth information as compared with at least one otherimage. As such, the present invention may be used for depth perceptiontesting/training with specific application to a variety of activities.For example, depth perception related to sports such as soccer, hockey,football, etc. may be tested/trained in accordance with long- andshort-range depth aspects of the present invention. In otherembodiments, depth perception related to activities such as billiardsmay be tested/trained in accordance with short-range depth aspects ofthe present invention.

In an exemplary embodiment, the control unit 160 is generally configuredto be any type of microprocessor that is capable of executing testinstructions. By way of example only and not limitation, executing testinstructions may include presenting color indicia representinganaglyphic image components on an anaglyphic image display device 140.Control unit 160 may also control any additional visual characteristics,such as color, orientation, rotation, trajectory, etc. In one instance,providing anaglyphic image components may involve, but is not limitedto, the following process: presenting the anaglyphic image components onthe anaglyphic image display device 140, maintaining anaglyphic imagecomponents for a predetermined amount of time (e.g., millisecond tominutes), and deactivating the anaglyphic image display device 140 byreturning it to the idle condition. Generally, the process is repeatednumerous times as the control unit 160 selects other placements of theanaglyphic image components to cycle through testing conditions.

Typically, a power source (not shown) may be electrically connected tothe control unit 160 and/or the anaglyphic image display device 140. Assuch, the power source assists in supporting operation of some or all ofthe electrically-driven components. In embodiments, the power source maybe a battery, electrical outlet, power cell, solar panel, or any othersource of consistent electrical current.

In one instance, an electrical current provided from the power source iscontrolled by the control unit 160 and conveyed to the plurality oflight sources 110 via a communicative connection 162. In anotherinstance, the communicative connection 162 serves to convey a signalfrom the control unit 160 to the anaglyphic image display device 140 toactivate or deactivate one or more selected light sources. Similarly, acommunicative connection 164 operably couples the control unit 160 tothe input device 170. In this way, the communicative connection 164allows the input device 170 to convey individual-initiated indicationsto the control unit 160 and/or control signals from the control unit 160to the input device 170.

In embodiments, the communicative connections 162 and 164 may be wiredor wireless. Examples of particular wired embodiments, within the scopeof the present invention, include USB connections and cable connections.Examples of particular wireless embodiments, within the scope of thepresent invention, include a near-range wireless network andradio-frequency technology. It should be understood and appreciated thatthe designation of “near-range wireless network” is not meant to belimiting, and should be interpreted broadly to include at least thefollowing technologies: negotiated wireless peripheral (NWP) devices;short-range wireless air interference networks (e.g., wireless personalarea network (wPAN), wireless local area network (wLAN), wireless widearea network (wWAN), Bluetooth™, and the like); wireless peer-to-peercommunication (e.g., Ultra Wideband); and any protocol that supportswireless communication of data between devices. Additionally, personsfamiliar with the field of the invention will realize that a near-rangewireless network may be practiced by various data-transfer methods(e.g., satellite transmission, telecommunications network, etc.) thatare different from the specific illustrated embodiments.

In other embodiments, the anaglyphic image presentation system 100 maynot be provisioned with a control unit 160. In this instance, theanaglyphic image display device 140 is wired with switches or relaycomponents incorporated in the wiring to control the routing and timingof the activation of the anaglyphic image display device 140. In thisway, when power is applied to the anaglyphic image display device 140,the wiring directs the power to present one or more anaglyphic imagecomponents, thereby allowing a user to perceive at least one anaglyphicimage.

Generally, the input device 170 is configured to receive response inputsfrom the individual 130 and to convey the user-input responses to thecontrol unit 160 for processing. By way of example only, individual 130may input a response after perceiving an anaglyphic image that appearsto be the farthest distance from a background panel. Input device 170may be, for example, a multi-touch device such as an iPod® touch, amicrophone, joystick, game pad, wireless device, keyboard, keypad, gamecontroller, force plate, eye tracking system, gesture recognitionsystem, touch sensitive screen, and/or any other input-initiatingcomponent that provides wired or wireless data to the anaglyphic imagedisplay device 140.

Input device 170 may include voice recognition equipment and/or softwarethat processes auditory inputs from the subject. For example, theauditory input from the subject, in order to show recognition of thevisual indicia and/or a visual trait(s) possessed by the visual indicia(for example, if a series of anaglyphic images are presented in apattern, and the user is asked to input a trait associated with theimage possessing the greatest depth), may be a verbalization of thetrait possessed by the visual indicia. In one embodiment, if the traitis a directional position of a presented anaglyphic image, theresponsive auditory inputs may be “up,” “down,” “right,” and “left.”However, one skilled in the art will understand and appreciate thatother auditory inputs may be used (e.g., stating a numeral, letter,symbol, etc.) to indicate that the subject perceived and/or recognizedthe visual indicia. It should be noted, however, that the presentinvention is not limited to implementation on such input devices 170,but may be implemented on any of a variety of different types of deviceswithin the scope of embodiments hereof. Input indicating the subject'sresponse to a displayed visual indicia may be received and captured withinput device 170. If the trait is a directional position, a satisfactorytest response may be identifying the quadrant of a display in which animage is located. By way of example only, without limitation,identifying may include the subject providing input by manipulating ajoystick in a direction corresponding to the directional orientation ona hand-held device employed as the input device 170.

If input device 170 is a gesture recognition system, a variety ofsystems and/or methods may be used to receive inputs. For example, oneor more cameras may be used to monitor the movement of a subject's bodylimbs and/or extremities and, in conjunction with appropriate hardwareand/or software, register an input when subject makes an appropriategesture. Gesture recognition systems may also utilize optical markersattached to subject to facilitate motion tracking. Transmitters attachedto subject and receivers (for example, utilizing radio, infrared, sonic,subsonic, or ultrasonic transmissions) may also be utilized as part of agesture recognition system.

If input device 170 is a touch sensitive screen, any type of touchsensitive screen may be utilized. Also, an overlay of a touch sensitivematerial may be used to receive touch inputs in conjunction with adisplay that is not itself touch sensitive. Such an overlay may be anydistance from the display.

Although not shown, a recording device may be incorporated within theanaglyphic image presentation system 100. In one instance, the recordingdevice is an external piece of equipment operably coupled to controlunit 160 via a communicative connection. In another instance, therecording device is a data-storage component integrated within thecontrol unit 160. In operation, the recording device is configured toretain information such as a record of responses input into the inputdevice 170, a collection of depth perception tests, test instructions,test data, and the like. This information may be searchable at therecording device by the control unit 160 or any other computing device.Further, the information may be downloadable from the recording deviceto perform analysis thereof, such as calculating a user's history ofdepth perception measurements or an analysis of improvement in a user'sdepth perception abilities over time. Further yet, information (e.g.,test instructions) may be unloadable to the recording device such thatit is accessible to the control unit 160. Although various embodimentsof information are discussed above, the content and volume of suchinformation is not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of thepresent invention in any way.

In embodiments, the control unit 160 may function as a training deviceby providing feedback to the individual 130. Feedback may be presentedin any form and may be based on any information, including depthperception measurements, manipulated test results, and predetermineddata from the test instructions. Further, in embodiments, the controlunit 160 may function as an analytical processor to evaluate the depthperception abilities of the individual 130. Evaluation may be performedby comparing the response from the individual 130 to the expectedresponse. In one instance, comparing responses comprises comparing thedepth perception measurement associated with the user's response to aninput device 170 against the depth information that was presented to theuser.

In embodiments, the depth perception abilities of a subject may betrained using anaglyphic image presentation system 100 using a series oftest parameters as provided below in Table 1. Table 1 comprises asequence numbering of tests (1, 2, 3, and 4); a prism diopter associatedwith the perceived anaglyphic image; a prism base direction; anorientation of the colored indicia such as dots displayed on anaglyphicimage display device 140; a pix-delta distance between a set of coloreddots on anaglyphic image display device 140; and a display time. Theprism base direction may be Base-Out (BO), as when the perceivedanaglyphic image hovers above the background, or Base-In (BI), as whenthe perceived anaglyphic image hovers below the background.

As seen below, one exemplary series of training exercises for theanaglyphic image presentation system 100 comprises a series of fourtests presented to a subject over the course of two minutes. Inembodiments, a subject is presented with a pair of dots oriented tohover above or below a background. In embodiments where a user viewsdepth information, such as the dots presented, through a set oftransmission filter lenses 150 oriented with a blue lens covering theright eye and a red lens covering the left eye, the resulting imageswill appear to hover above; below; above; and below the background,respectively.

TABLE 1 Position Prism base Red/Blue dot Base distance between theSequence Prism Diopter direction orientation center of the dots DisplayTime 1 1 BO BLUE on left 173 pixels (4.87 cm) 30 sec RED on right 2 1 BIRED on left 173 pixels (4.87 cm) 30 sec BLUE on right 3 2 BO BLUE onleft 345 pixels (9.75 cm) 30 sec RED on right 4 2 BI RED on left 345pixels (9.75 cm) 30 sec BLUE on right

The base distance between the center of the dots is measured by apixdelta, as described above. In the present example, the width of onepixel is 0.282 mm. Additionally, the distance between pixels may bereferenced by the number of arcseconds associated with each pixdelta.The number of pixels associated with each arcsecond is based on thedistance of a subject from a display screen. For instance, when asubject stands sixteen feet from a display screen, a pixdelta of onepixel may comprise twelve arcseconds. Alternatively, when a subjectstands thirty two feed from a display screen, a pixdelta of one pixelmay comprise six arcseconds. An exemplary table of levels of pixdeltasis shown below.

TABLE 2 Level Delta (pixels) Top Pair distance Arcsec 1 10 Basedistance + Delta -OR- 120 2 9 Base distance − Delta 107 3 8 (Randomlydetermined) 95 4 7 84 5 6 72 6 5 60 7 4 48 8 3 36 9 2 24 10 1 12

As seen in Table 1 and Table 2, the difference in distance between twopairs of dots presented may be small (e.g., on the order of tenths ofmillimeters) so as to train the retinal disparity sensitivity aspect ofa subject's depth perception ability with substantially unchanged visualvergence. In these cases, a subject's retinal disparity sensitivitywould be the primary aspect trained through the anaglyphic imagepresentation system 100.

In addition to testing the retinal disparity sensitivity aspects of auser's depth perception, the anaglyphic image presentation system 100may also be used to test and/or train the user's speed in perceiving thedistinction between depths presented to the user. The speed of a user'sperception may be measured based on the amount of time elapsed from afirst time, at which indicia are displayed, and a second time, at whicha response is received from the subject. As a user correctly identifiesthe resulting anaglyphic image that is farthest from the background (ornearest to the background, depending on the test question being asked),the user may be presented with depth information at a faster pace.Additionally or alternatively, the user may be presented with depthinformation with a smaller pixdelta so as to increase the level ofdifficulty to the user.

Additionally, although a particular configuration of the anaglyphicimage components has been described, it should be understood andappreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that other methods forpresenting the anaglyphic image components could be used, and that theinvention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described.

Referring to FIG. 2, a transmitted wavelength chart 200 is provided inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. The chart 200 iscomposed of measures of percentage transmittance and wavelength on anxy-plot, respectively. The chart in FIG. 2 comprises the wavelength andpercentage transmittance characteristics of a left target component asdisplayed 210, a right target component as displayed 215, a left targetcomponent as perceived 220, and a right target component as perceived225.

The wavelength and percentage transmittance of left target component asdisplayed 210 and right target component as displayed 215 represent thewavelength and percentage transmittance of the components as they wouldbe viewed without filter lenses. Similarly, left target component asperceived 220 and right target component as perceived 225 represent thewavelength and percentage transmittance of the components as they wouldbe viewed through filter lenses. The difference between the twopercentages of transmittance at a given wavelength is due to a propertyof the transmission filter lenses of only letting a percentage of theemitted light pass through the transmission filter lenses. For instance,the light associated with left target component as perceived 220 mayonly comprise 70% of the light that is displayed, while the lightassociated with right target component as perceived by 225 may comprise75% of the light that is displayed. In order to equalize the light thatis passed through both sides, the percentage transmittance of the firstlight must be increased such that the amount of light perceived by auser is equal with regard to the at least two colors being used asanaglyphic input component colors. In alternative embodiments, thepercentage transmittance of the background color may be modified toequal the percentage transmittance of the two anaglyphic inputcomponents.

FIG. 3 illustrates an anaglyphic image display device 300 that providestarget component images that may be viewed through a set of transmissionfilter lenses in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.Anaglyphic image display device 300 comprises a background 310,right-oriented anaglyphic image components 320 and left-oriented imagecomponents 330. In one embodiment, right-oriented anaglyphic imagecomponents 320 is displayed at a first wavelength, such as thatassociated with blue, and left-oriented anaglyphic image components 330are displayed at a second wavelength, such as that associated with red.Additionally, background 310 is displayed at a third wavelength that isa mixture of the first wavelength and the second wavelength.

While the example above uses the colors blue and red for theright-oriented anaglyphic image components and anaglyphic left-orientedimage components, respectively, tests have shown that the display ofanaglyphic images may be successful using colors that have a lesserdegree of luminance contrast than that between red and blue. Forinstance, in alternative embodiments, shades of green and violet mayalso be used in composing left-oriented and right-oriented anaglyphicimage components.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perceived anaglyphic image 400 of an anaglyphicimage display device when viewed through a first transmission filterlens in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Inparticular, an embodiment of the perceived anaglyphic image 400comprises a background 410 and left-oriented perceived target components430. Background 410 is displayed at a wavelength matching the bluewavelength matching the peak wavelength transmitted from a firsttransmission filter lens. As such, the left-oriented perceived targetcomponents, which were formally displayed at a wavelength associatedwith the color red, now appear to be black. Additionally, theright-oriented anaglyphic image components that were formerly displayedat a wavelength associated with blue have now “disappeared” into theblue background. The right-oriented components seem to have disappearedbecause the color at which they were displayed matches the wavelength atwhich the background 410 is displayed.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perceived anaglyphic image 500 of an anaglyphicimage display device when viewed through a second transmission filterlens in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Inparticular, an embodiment of the perceived anaglyphic image 500comprises a background 510 and right-oriented perceived targetcomponents 520. Background 510 is displayed at a wavelength matching thered wavelength matching the peak wavelength transmitted from a secondtransmission filter lens. As such, the right-oriented perceived targetcomponents, which were formerly displayed at a wavelength associatedwith the color blue, now appear to be black. Additionally, theleft-oriented anaglyphic image components that were formerly displayedat a wavelength associated with red have now “disappeared” into the redbackground. The left-oriented components seem to have disappearedbecause the color at which they were displayed matches the wavelength atwhich the background 510 is displayed.

FIG. 6 illustrates a display 600 of anaglyphic image components withvarious pixdelta displays in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention. The anaglyphic image components are presented againsta background 610. There are three sets of pixdelta embodiments: a firstset comprising components 620 and 630; a second set comprisingcomponents 622 and 632; and a third set comprising components 625 and635.

Components 620 and 630 are aligned to be consistent with a set oftransmission filter lenses with a blue lens on the right and a red lenson the left, such that the first set of components 620 and 630 may bedisplayed as the colors blue on the right and red on the left,respectively. As such, the resulting anaglyphic image would appear tohover below background 610. Similarly, the third set of components 625and 635 are also consistent with a set of transmission filter lenses,and a resulting anaglyphic image would also appear to be hovering belowbackground 610. The distinction between the resulting images from thefirst set of components 620 and 630 combination and the third set ofcomponents 625 and 635 combination is due to the closeness of thecomponents. For instance, the first set of components 620 and 630 are soclose as to create a degree of overlap 640. The third set of components625 and 635, however, have no overlap. As such, the anaglyphic imageresulting from the third set of components 625 and 635 would appear tobe hovering farther below background 610 than the resultant anaglyphicimage from the first set of components 620 and 630.

In contrast, the second set of components 622 and 632 are inconsistentwith a set of transmission filter lenses with a blue lens on the rightand a red lens on the left, such that the second set of components 622and 632 may be displayed as the colors red on the right and blue on theleft, respectively. As such, the resulting anaglyphic image would appearto hover above background 610. Additionally, since the distance betweenthe second set of components 622 and 632 is greater than between eitherthe first set of components 620 and 630 or the third set of components625 and 635, the image resulting from the second set of components 622and 632 would appear to have the greatest depth relative to thebackground 610 (i.e., it would appear to hover the farthest frombackground 610) of the three resultant anaglyphic images.

FIG. 7 illustrates an anaglyphic image display device 700 in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. The anaglyphic displaydevice 700 comprises a left-oriented target display component 710, aright-oriented target display component 720, a background 730, a firstlens filter 740, and a second lens filter 750. In embodiments, theleft-oriented target display component 720 comprises a first colorshading at a first wavelength. Similarly, in embodiments, theright-oriented target display component 730 comprises a second colorshading at a second wavelength. In further embodiments, the backgroundcomprises a third color shading at a third wavelength that comprises amixture of the first color shading at the first wavelength and thesecond color shading at the second wavelength. The first lens filter maymatch the first wavelength. Similarly, the second lens filter may matchthe second wavelength. Additionally or alternatively, the first lensfilter and/or the second lens filter may meet a desired range ofwavelengths rather than match a wavelength directly. In alternativeembodiments, the luminance contrast between the first color shading atthe first wavelength and the third color shading at the third wavelengthmay be equal to the luminance contrast between the second color shadingat the second wavelength and the third color shading at the thirdwavelength.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing a method 800 for presenting at leastone anaglyphic image to a user in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention. Initially, at block 810, a left-oriented target imagecomponent is presented on an anaglyphic image display device. At block820, a right-oriented target image component is presented on ananaglyphic image display device. At block 830, the peak wavelengthemitted from the display of the left-oriented target image component isadjusted to match the peak wavelength transmitted of a firsttransmission filter lens. At block 840, the peak wavelength emitted fromthe display of the right-oriented target image component is adjusted tomatch the peak wavelength transmitted of a second transmission filterlens. At block 850, an input from the user is received at an inputdevice. The input from the user may indicate the user has perceived ananaglyphic target image through the first and second transmission filterlenses. Additionally, the perceived target image may be composed from acompilation of the left-oriented target image component and theright-oriented target image component.

The present invention has been described in relation to particularembodiments, which are intended in all respects to be illustrativerather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent tothose of ordinary skill in the art to which the present inventionpertains without departing from its scope.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all the ends and indicia set forth above, togetherwith other advantages which are obvious and inherent to the system andmethod. It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinationsare of utility and may be employed without reference to other featuresand sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope ofthe claims.

1. An anaglyphic image display device that provides at least one anaglyphic image when viewed through appropriate filter lenses, the anaglyphic display device comprising: at least one left-oriented target display component, the left-oriented target display components comprising a first color shading at a first wavelength; at least one right-oriented target display component, the right-oriented target display components comprising a second color shading at a second wavelength; a background comprising a third color shading at a third wavelength that comprises a mixture of the first color shading at the first wavelength and the second color shading at the second wavelength; at least one first lens filter matching the first wavelength; and at least one second lens filter matching the second wavelength. wherein the luminance contrast between the first color shading at the first wavelength and the third color shading at the third wavelength is equal to the luminance contrast between the second color shading at the second wavelength and the third color shading at the third wavelength.
 2. The anaglyphic image presentation system of claim 1 wherein the at least first lens and at least second lens comprise max optics.
 3. The anaglyphic image presentation system of claim 1 wherein the at least one first lens filter matches the first wavelength when the peak wavelength transmitted through the first lens filter is within a first range of appropriate wavelengths.
 4. The anaglyphic image presentation system of claim 3 wherein the at least one second lens filter matches the second wavelength when the peak wavelength transmitted through the second lens filter is within a second range of appropriate wavelengths.
 5. The anaglyphic image presentation system of claim 1 wherein the at least one first lens filter matches the first wavelength when the peak wavelength transmitted through the first lens filter is at within the farther 50% range of a first range of appropriate wavelengths when compared to the second range of appropriate wavelengths.
 6. The anaglyphic image presentation system of claim 1 wherein the at least one second lens filter matches the second wavelength when the peak wavelength transmitted through the second lens filter is at within the farther 50% range of a second range of appropriate wavelengths when compared to the first range of appropriate wavelengths.
 7. The anaglyphic image presentation system of claim 1 wherein an appropriate wavelength comprises a wavelength associated with the first wavelength that precludes the inclusion of the second wavelength.
 8. The anaglyphic image presentation system of claim 1 wherein the set of transmission filter lenses are included in a wrap-around band of glasses.
 9. An anaglyphic image presentation system that is used by a user to perceive at least one anaglyphic image, the anaglyphic display device comprising: an anaglyphic image display device that presents anaglyphic image components against on an anaglyphic image display device; a set of transmission filter lenses; a control unit that controls the display of anaglyphic image components against presented on an anaglyphic image display device; and an input device that receives inputs from an individual in response to being presented with depth perception evaluation tests.
 10. The anaglyphic image presentation system of claim 9 wherein the set of transmission filter lenses comprise max optics.
 11. The anaglyphic image presentation system of claim 9 wherein two lenses comprising the set of transmission filter lenses match the first wavelength when the peak wavelength transmitted through the first lens filter is within a first range of appropriate wavelengths and a second wavelength when the peak wavelength transmitted through the second lens filter is within a second range of appropriate wavelengths, respectively.
 12. The anaglyphic image presentation system of claim 9 wherein the set of transmission filter lenses are included in a wrap-around band of glasses.
 13. A method for presenting at least one anaglyphic image to a user, the method comprising: presenting at least one left-oriented target image component on an anaglyphic image display device; presenting at least one right-oriented target image component on the anaglyphic image display device; adjusting the peak wavelength emitted from the display of the left-oriented target image component to match the peak wavelength transmitted of a first transmission filter lens; adjusting the peak wavelength emitted from the display of the right-oriented target image component to match the peak wavelength transmitted of a second transmission filter lens; and receiving an input from the user at an input device indicating the user has a perceived an anaglyphic target image through the first and second transmission filter lenses, the perceived target image composed from a compilation of the left-oriented target image component and the right-oriented target image component.
 14. The anaglyphic image presentation system of claim 13 wherein the first and second transmission filter lenses comprise max optics.
 15. The anaglyphic image presentation system of claim 13 wherein the first transmission filter lens matches the first wavelength when the peak wavelength transmitted through the first transmission filter lens is within a first range of appropriate wavelengths.
 16. The anaglyphic image presentation system of claim 15 wherein the second transmission filter lens matches the second wavelength when the peak wavelength transmitted through the second transmission filter lens is within a second range of appropriate wavelengths.
 17. The anaglyphic image presentation system of claim 13 wherein the first transmission filter lens matches the first wavelength when the peak wavelength transmitted through the first transmission filter lens is at within the farther 50% range of a first range of appropriate wavelengths when compared to the second range of appropriate wavelengths.
 18. The anaglyphic image presentation system of claim 13 wherein the second transmission filter lens matches the second wavelength when the peak wavelength transmitted through the second transmission filter lens is at within the farther 50% range of a second range of appropriate wavelengths when compared to the first range of appropriate wavelengths.
 19. The anaglyphic image presentation system of claim 13 wherein the first and second transmission filter lenses are included in a wrap-around band of glasses.
 20. A method for testing and/or training the depth perception abilities of an individual within a substantially unchanged visual vergence range, the method comprising: (a) providing anaglyphic glasses to the individual; (b) instructing the individual to select an anaglyphic visual target displayed nearest to the background; (c) displaying, on a display device at a first time, at least two anaglyphic visual targets, the at least two anaglyphic visual targets being displayed with similar but non-identical depth information, such that the individual may perceive both anaglyphic visual targets with substantially unchanged visual vergence with one of the at least two anaglyphic visual targets being perceived by the individual as nearer to the background than the at least one other anaglyphic visual target; (d) receiving a response from the individual at a second time selecting one of the at least two anaglyphic visual targets; (e) determining at a control unit whether the anaglyphic visual target selected by the individual corresponds to the anaglyphic visual target displayed with depth information so as to be perceived as nearer to the background; (f) recording the time elapsed for the user to respond and recording the accuracy of the user response; (g) iteratively repeating steps (e)-(f) a predetermined number of times.
 21. A method for testing and/or training the depth perception abilities of an individual within a substantially unchanged visual vergence range, the method comprising: (a) providing anaglyphic glasses to the individual; (b) instructing the individual to select an anaglyphic visual target displayed farthest from the background; (c) displaying, on a display device at a first time, at least two anaglyphic visual targets, the at least two anaglyphic visual targets being displayed with similar but non-identical depth information, such that the individual may perceive both anaglyphic visual targets with substantially unchanged visual vergence with one of the at least two anaglyphic visual targets being perceived by the individual as farther from the background than the at least one other anaglyphic visual target; (d) receiving a response from the individual at a second time selecting one of the at least two anaglyphic visual targets; (e) determining at a control unit whether the anaglyphic visual target selected by the individual corresponds to the anaglyphic visual target displayed with depth information so as to be perceived as farther from the background; (f) recording the time elapsed for the user to respond and recording the accuracy of the user response; (g) iteratively repeating steps (e)-(f) a predetermined number of times. 